[TN-Bird] Mississippi Kite at Sharps Ridge, Knoxville

Sharps Ridge, Knox County, TN
26 April, 2009
There was a good number of birders at Sharps Ridge this morning, including a
guided commercial tour group.  Birding on the ridge was fairly slow, and
most of the birders were gone by 0930.  About 15 minutes later, an
adult-plumaged Mississippi Kite came soaring over the ridge slowly making
its way towards the northeast.  It was seen by Shane Williams and his
mother, Bob Steffy and me, and separagely from the 4 of us, Gary Woody and
his wife.  (My apologies for not remembering names better.)  We watched it
for 3 or 4 minutes.  It first appeared only a couple hundred feet or so
above us and circled towards the northeast as it gained altitude.  It was
first spotted a few seconds after a Cooper's Hawk circled over us and both
birds were bridfly visible at the same time, although not particularly close
together.  The unstreaked gray undersides and black tail were easily seen.
It was also missing a flight feather from its left wing - either an
innermost primary or an outermost secondary.  I think this is the first time
a Mississippi Kite has been recorded on the Knox County spring count, and it
is one of the only county records.  I'll let Dean Edwards better fill us in
on this.
 
The only other noteable highlight of the morning for me was a singing
Black-throated Blue Warbler, which was also seen by Laurie Pearl.  It was at
the northeast end of the ridge and most birders drove right by it.   
 
Chuck Nicholson
Norris, TN
 

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